Connecting with God through poetic articulations of lived, embodied experience–engaging texts from the Revised Common Lectionary for Christian churches, other biblical and spiritual texts, and evocations of the divine in rituals and other public events–always accepting lived reality as a primary source of divine revelation and mystery.

Make It Real for Everyone

Behold, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth–can I imagine that when a pink sky tinged with gold and orange bathes troubled souls, when despite whatever calamity has happened in the world, an election gone awry, perhaps coup d’etat in some foreign land, even here, or a death in the family, or an anguished call from a friend, cancer diagnosis–can I imagine God promising not only me, not only my family and friends and community, but the world, faithful and otherwise, such a glorious reality? But it is here all the time, is it not? Did God stop promising this after Isaiah wrote it down or later prophets intoned the words and preached them as if they were true? No way! This not a new or old promise, not even an unfulfilled one nor expired either.

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Do not become trapped in terror when ugly things happen, whether created by men (yes, sometimes women, but with their lesser social power it is more often male-bodied persons), or by force of nature, sometimes referred to as Acts of God though if people die I doubt it is God acting–God not wanting to lose any of the divine inventory of creation known as humans. Instead, in the midst of challenge see an opportunity to witness, testify to your faith that when needed God shows up. When you are not sure of this, check the sunset or look at the blue waters of the bay in front of your eyes, or beautiful child singing quietly as she plays with toys, or falling leaves and even snowflakes preparing for new spring and somnolent summer, grandfather holding the hand of toddler learning to walk, youths abandoning care of what others think to dance their hearts out, again to be reminded that God shares much with us including beauty as well as hardship, the former a gift to feel loved, the latter to remind us there is always work to do.

Jesus knew about this and he tells us nation will rise against nation (white nations against nations of color, men nations against nations of women, have nations against nations of have-nots, ableist nations against nations of differently able, youth-obsessed nations against old people nations, profits-above-all nations against care-giving nations, discrimination nations against nations of Queer warriors), and there will be earthquakes, famines, and plagues not to mention dreadful portents, great signs from heaven (whatever they are); there will even be persecution and arrests: Oh we shall, we must, know about persecution and arrest because without those can our testimony break through the veil, the wall, of privilege and power that believes in earthly strength rather than divine mercy, bombast more than quiet murmurings of prayer, conflict more than peaceful coexistence, despair and finger-pointing more than hope– can we be brave and true, faithful, no matter the provocation?

It takes strength, courage, to be persistent
and gentle when all about us
are flailing and screaming, beating each other up
with words, as well as fists, armies, and drones.
Endure, that is the word, the truth, the way:
new heavens and a new earth are here already
even if we,
and most, maybe all, others
have yet to see enough
right in front of ourselves
to work with each other and God
to make it real for everyone.

About this poem . . . God does not cause all things but God is present in all things. Troubles, like joys and celebrations, can be opportunities for us gain new wisdom and to experience the presence, grace, and love of God. Isaiah’s prophecy of new heavens and a new earth need not be about some time in the great “by and by,” but now, right in front of us if we are able, and willing, to read the signs. And we can see in the daily struggles of people for liberation, and wholeness and peace (shalom), despite often daunting odds and steep climbs, God at work. But we do have to be open and receptive, allowing ourselves a level of vulnerability not often encouraged in human society, one based on deep and continuing trust in God.